Which stock-market crash followed the COVID-19 pandemic declaration and included a 34% fall in the S&P 500 during 2020?

The stock-market crash that followed the COVID-19 pandemic declaration and included a 34% fall in the S&P 500 during 2020 was the 2020 stock-market crash.

The decline accelerated in February and March 2020 as governments restricted travel and business activity to slow the spread of COVID-19. Investors feared a sudden global recession, disrupted supply chains, falling energy demand, and severe damage to corporate earnings.

The S&P 500 fell about 34 percent from its February 19 peak to its March 23 low. U.S. exchanges triggered several market-wide circuit breakers during the descent. Central banks cut interest rates, bought assets, and provided emergency liquidity, while governments introduced large fiscal-support programs.

The recovery was unusually rapid compared with many earlier crashes, although it was uneven across industries and countries. Technology and stay-at-home companies often performed strongly, while travel, hospitality, and energy businesses faced extraordinary pressure. The event is distinct from the longer 2008 crisis because its initial cause was a public-health shock rather than a banking collapse.